Monument to Discoveries - Lisbon Portugal Photo credit: David Gardiner
MATHEMATICS REFRESHER COURSE
Requirement:
This computer-based Mathematics Refresher Course is aimed at assisting students to gain competence with basic business mathematics and prepare them for the quantitative aspects of their Graduate Programmes course of study.
The purpose of the refresher course is to help students develop the necessary skills and background knowledge to enable them to move successfully through their Graduate Programmes course of study. The idea is that they really learn and understand the material and not just "get through" the course.
Content:
The Mathematics Refresher Course consists of two parts - the Computer-based Self-study Course and a Quick Qualifying Test.
Computer-based Self-study Course
Students enrolled for the Computer-based Self-study Course can download electronic copies of all the materials for the course including five coursebooks, five powerpoint slide files and five assignments. Students complete the course in their own time and upload the assignments for marking.
As each assignment is completed it should be uploaded onto the Maths Refresher Website. The lecturer will mark it and return it with helpful comments as appropriate.
Ideally, students should start this course well in advance of the start of their first quarter so they can complete the assignments before the start of their studies. The time required to complete each module depends on the level of competence of each individual student. Each module could be completed with about 3 to 5 hours of study. Some students take about 10 hours per module.
The Computer-based Self-study Course consists of five modules
- Introduction to mathematics
- Mathematical tools and economics
- Probability
- Statistics
- Financial mathematics
All modules have a basic section and an advanced section. To pass the course the student should demonstrate competence in the basic section. The advanced section is offered as a challenge for those students who desire that little bit extra. The assignments are based on material in both sections.
Module 1: Introduction to mathematics
- Spreadsheets
- Numbers and rounding
- Order of operations
- Powers
- Subscripts and summation
- Inequalities
- Percentage calculations
- Prices including and excluding GST
- Absolute values
- Advanced section: Solving equations
- Advanced section: Algebraic expressions
Module 2: Mathematical tools and economics
- Straight line graphs
- Graphs which aren?t straight lines
- Slope (gradient)
- Simultaneous equations
- Advanced section: Graphing in economics
- Advanced section: Using graphs
Module 3: Probability
- Elementary probability concepts
- Expected values
- Measures of variation
- Combinations and permutations
- Binomial distribution
- Normal distribution
- Advanced section: Calculations based on normally distributed data
Module 4: Statistics
- Descriptive statistics
- Populations and samples
- Central limit theorem
- Confidence intervals
- Correlation
- Advanced section: Introduction to linear regression
Module 5: Financial mathematics
- Simple and compound interest
- Depreciation
- Future value
- Present value
- Advanced section: Net present value
- Advanced section: Internal rate of return
Quick Qualifying Test (QQT)
Students who possess an understanding of business mathematics and can demonstrate an ability to use quantitative techniques may start by attempting the Quick Qualifying Test.
Students who gain 90% in the Quick Qualifying Test will be accredited with a pass in the Mathematics Refresher Course.
Students who obtain less than 90% in the Quick Qualifying Test are required to participate in the full Mathematics Refresher Course. We expect this will apply to the majority of students.
The Quick Qualifying Test (QQT) must be completed within one week of registration and payment. It is intended to be a quick qualifier and should not require additional study and preparation. The Quick Qualifying Test (QQT) should be done "quickly" and should not require research and extended reading. If research and extended reading is required we suggest you enrol for the full course.
COST:
Full Computer-based Self-study Course
University of Auckland $185.00 incl GST
University of Canterbury $185.00 incl GST
Quick Qualifying Test University of Auckland $60.00 incl GST
University of Canterbury $60.00 incl GST
Students who obtain less than 90% in this Quick Qualifying Test are required to participate in the Full Computer-based Self-study Course and pay an additional fee of $135 incl GST
Students who gain at least 90% in this Quick Qualifying Test will be accredited with a pass in the Mathematics Refresher Course. We expect this will apply to only a few students.
The Quick Qualifying Test (QQT) must be completed within one week of registration and payment. The Quick Qualifying Test (QQT) should be done "quickly" and should not require research and extended reading. If research and extended reading is required we suggest you enrol for the full course.
REGISTRATION:
Access http://maths.gardinergroup.co.nz and Register. You will need to know whether you plan to start with the full computer-based self-study course or whether you plan to start with the quick qualifying test.
An email is sent to your designated email address. You should retrieve this email and follow the link to confirm the email address.
PAYMENT:
After signing into the maths refresher website http://maths.gardinergroup.co.nz you will have three possible ways of making payment, credit card payment by Visa / Mastercard, bank transfer using internet banking, or posting a cheque.
Select Payment method Credit Card for credit card payment by Visa or Mastercard:
This will transfer you to Promark for secure credit card transactions.
Select Payment method Internet banking for a bank transfer using internet banking:
An invoice will be emailed to your email address and the invoice will contain the following payment details:
Account Name: Gardiner Consultants Limited
Account Number: 06 0287 0270357 00
Bank: National Bank of
Branch:
Enter your name in CODE and invoice number (if available) in REFERENCE
Select payment method Cheque for the payment option to post a cheque:
An invoice will be emailed to your designated email address and the invoice will contain the address for posting. Post a copy of the invoice together with your cheque to:
Gardiner Consulting Group, 335 Ashgrove Terrace,
Post registration:
When payment is confirmed you may Signin to http://maths.gardinergroup.co.nz and access the full set of course materials. Send an email to David Gardiner (Lecturer) if you have any issues or queries. Send the email to dave@gardinergroup.co.nz
FULL COMPUTER-BASED SELF-STUDY COURSE INSTRUCTIONS
Here are some instructions to help you succeed in the refresher course.
The purpose of the refresher course is to help you develop the necessary skills and background knowledge to enable you to move successfully through your Graduate Programmes course of study. The idea is that you really learn and understand the material, not that you just "get through" the course.
You should have (or will be able to access) the following course materials
- A set of five Adobe pdf files containing the course book notes
- A set of five Powerpoint slides to be used in conjunction with the course book notes
- A set of five Word documents containing the five assignments
The requirements are that you successfully complete the five assignments. To complete an assignment you need to show me that you have an understanding of the concepts involved.
Assignments should be prepared on a computer and uploaded to the http://maths.gardinergroup.co.nz website. Some of the WORD documents containing the assignment questions will have embedded Excel files in them. If you right-click onto these embedded files, then use WORKSHEET OBJECT and OPEN they will open up as an Excel workbook.
When your assignment is returned to you it may include feedback comments as appropriate. This should be examined carefully, along with your assignment so that you can learn from the comments.
The method you should use is to open up the Powerpoint files and set it to slide show. (SLIDESHOW View from beginning or View from current slide). Then using the Powerpoint slideshow as a prompt work your way through the course book notes for each module. At the end of each module, you should do the corresponding assignment.
Happy studying.
David Gardiner Refresher course lecturer
email: busmaths@gardinergroup.co.nz
Telephone: +64 (0) 3 337 1198
Gardiner Consulting Group
335 Ashgrove Tce Lower Cashmere, Christchurch, Ph: 03 337 1198